McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology
The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children
9th Edition
• Author(s)Julia Rogers
TEST BANK
McCance & Huether — Pathophysiology, 9th Ed. — Chapter 1:
Cellular Biology.
1. Chapter 1: Section — Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Stem: A 28-year-old patient has a severe infection with a
bacterium that lacks a true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles. Which cellular feature most reliably
distinguishes this pathogen from human cells?
A. Presence of ribosomes
B. Circular DNA not enclosed by a nuclear membrane
C. Plasma membrane composed of phospholipids
D. Ability to synthesize proteins from mRNA
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
Correct: B. Prokaryotes characteristically have circular DNA that
,is not enclosed by a nuclear membrane (nucleoid), which is a
defining distinction from eukaryotic cells.
A. Incorrect — Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have
ribosomes; ribosome size differs but presence alone is not
distinguishing.
C. Incorrect — Both have phospholipid plasma membranes;
composition alone is not definitive.
D. Incorrect — Both synthesize proteins from mRNA; this is a
shared function, not a distinguishing feature.
Teaching Point: Prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus;
their circular DNA in a nucleoid distinguishes them from
eukaryotes.
2. Chapter 1: Section — Cellular Functions
Stem: A patient’s hepatocytes show decreased plasma
protein secretion leading to low serum albumin. Which
cellular process is primarily responsible for synthesizing
secreted plasma proteins?
A. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
B. Rough endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi apparatus pathway
C. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation
D. Lysosomal proteolysis
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
Correct: B. Secreted proteins are synthesized on ribosomes
,bound to the rough ER, processed in the ER, then modified and
sorted in the Golgi for secretion.
A. Incorrect — Oxidative phosphorylation produces ATP, not
secreted proteins.
C. Incorrect — Peroxisomes handle fatty acid oxidation and
detoxification, not secreted protein synthesis.
D. Incorrect — Lysosomes degrade proteins; they do not
synthesize secreted proteins.
Teaching Point: Secreted plasma proteins are produced by
rough ER ribosomes and processed through the Golgi for
secretion.
3. Chapter 1: Section — Structure and Function of Cellular
Components
Stem: A muscle biopsy shows swollen mitochondria with
disrupted cristae after ischemia. Which cellular
consequence best explains impaired ATP production in
these cells?
A. Loss of mitochondrial DNA increases glycolysis.
B. Disruption of the inner mitochondrial membrane
impairs electron transport chain function.
C. Outer membrane rupture prevents pyruvate entry into
mitochondria.
D. Increased lysosomal activity degrades mitochondrial
enzymes.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationales:
Correct: B. Cristae are folds of the inner mitochondrial
membrane that house electron transport chain complexes;
disruption prevents oxidative phosphorylation and ATP
production.
A. Incorrect — Loss of mtDNA may impair some proteins but
immediate ATP failure after ischemia is due to membrane/ETC
disruption, not increased glycolysis.
C. Incorrect — Pyruvate enters via transporters in the inner
membrane and matrix; outer membrane rupture alone is not
the principal reason for ATP loss.
D. Incorrect — Lysosomal degradation is not the primary
immediate mechanism causing decreased mitochondrial ATP
after ischemia.
Teaching Point: Integrity of the inner mitochondrial
membrane/cristae is essential for electron transport and ATP
generation.
4. Chapter 1: Section — Structure and Function of Cellular
Components
Stem: A patient with a congenital defect in lysosomal acid
hydrolases accumulates undegraded substrates within
cells. Which organelle dysfunction is directly involved and
what cellular change is expected?
A. Peroxisomes — accumulation of very-long-chain fatty
acids
The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children
9th Edition
• Author(s)Julia Rogers
TEST BANK
McCance & Huether — Pathophysiology, 9th Ed. — Chapter 1:
Cellular Biology.
1. Chapter 1: Section — Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Stem: A 28-year-old patient has a severe infection with a
bacterium that lacks a true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles. Which cellular feature most reliably
distinguishes this pathogen from human cells?
A. Presence of ribosomes
B. Circular DNA not enclosed by a nuclear membrane
C. Plasma membrane composed of phospholipids
D. Ability to synthesize proteins from mRNA
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
Correct: B. Prokaryotes characteristically have circular DNA that
,is not enclosed by a nuclear membrane (nucleoid), which is a
defining distinction from eukaryotic cells.
A. Incorrect — Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have
ribosomes; ribosome size differs but presence alone is not
distinguishing.
C. Incorrect — Both have phospholipid plasma membranes;
composition alone is not definitive.
D. Incorrect — Both synthesize proteins from mRNA; this is a
shared function, not a distinguishing feature.
Teaching Point: Prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus;
their circular DNA in a nucleoid distinguishes them from
eukaryotes.
2. Chapter 1: Section — Cellular Functions
Stem: A patient’s hepatocytes show decreased plasma
protein secretion leading to low serum albumin. Which
cellular process is primarily responsible for synthesizing
secreted plasma proteins?
A. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
B. Rough endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi apparatus pathway
C. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation
D. Lysosomal proteolysis
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
Correct: B. Secreted proteins are synthesized on ribosomes
,bound to the rough ER, processed in the ER, then modified and
sorted in the Golgi for secretion.
A. Incorrect — Oxidative phosphorylation produces ATP, not
secreted proteins.
C. Incorrect — Peroxisomes handle fatty acid oxidation and
detoxification, not secreted protein synthesis.
D. Incorrect — Lysosomes degrade proteins; they do not
synthesize secreted proteins.
Teaching Point: Secreted plasma proteins are produced by
rough ER ribosomes and processed through the Golgi for
secretion.
3. Chapter 1: Section — Structure and Function of Cellular
Components
Stem: A muscle biopsy shows swollen mitochondria with
disrupted cristae after ischemia. Which cellular
consequence best explains impaired ATP production in
these cells?
A. Loss of mitochondrial DNA increases glycolysis.
B. Disruption of the inner mitochondrial membrane
impairs electron transport chain function.
C. Outer membrane rupture prevents pyruvate entry into
mitochondria.
D. Increased lysosomal activity degrades mitochondrial
enzymes.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationales:
Correct: B. Cristae are folds of the inner mitochondrial
membrane that house electron transport chain complexes;
disruption prevents oxidative phosphorylation and ATP
production.
A. Incorrect — Loss of mtDNA may impair some proteins but
immediate ATP failure after ischemia is due to membrane/ETC
disruption, not increased glycolysis.
C. Incorrect — Pyruvate enters via transporters in the inner
membrane and matrix; outer membrane rupture alone is not
the principal reason for ATP loss.
D. Incorrect — Lysosomal degradation is not the primary
immediate mechanism causing decreased mitochondrial ATP
after ischemia.
Teaching Point: Integrity of the inner mitochondrial
membrane/cristae is essential for electron transport and ATP
generation.
4. Chapter 1: Section — Structure and Function of Cellular
Components
Stem: A patient with a congenital defect in lysosomal acid
hydrolases accumulates undegraded substrates within
cells. Which organelle dysfunction is directly involved and
what cellular change is expected?
A. Peroxisomes — accumulation of very-long-chain fatty
acids
